Secretary of the US Navy Carlos Del Toro noted that the submarines of this class are exposed to high pressures and extreme conditions at great depths, so the slightest defect can lead to damage to the hull.
The US Navy recently expressed concern about poor quality welds on two of the newest Virginia-class submarines — Hyman G. Rickover and New Jersey. Welding problems were also found on the aircraft carrier George Washington after it was repaired. This was revealed in a published statement by Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro to the House Armed Services Committee.
While the Navy has assured that these defects do not jeopardize the operational capabilities of the ships, the scale and potential consequences of these problems are alarming.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000According to the minister's statement, the cause of the defects was the failure of welders to follow established procedures, which affected key components of the ships.
At the same time, it was noted that Virginia-class submarines are exposed to high pressure and extreme conditions at great depths, and even minor defects in welds can accelerate wear or damage the hull. Therefore, if the problems are not eliminated in a timely manner, this may cause additional costs for repairs and maintenance.
And although Navy specialists and technical experts have confirmed that the defects do not threaten the safety of critical systems, but for the 23 other ships that are under construction or repair, investigations are underway to prevent potential problems in the future.
Newport News Shipbuilding (HII), which was responsible for the work, acknowledged the defects and said it immediately notified the Navy and regulatory authorities .